Electric heaters for showers



Dec. 30, 1958 EuG. MlNlER 2,866,884

ELECTRIC HEATERS FOR SHOWERS Filed July 11, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 l 1.2 V W 7,, l 4! 7a 3 g Dec. 30, 1958 E. G. MlNlER 2,866,884

ELECTRIC HEATERS FOR SHOWERS Filed July 11, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 if /g25 I g if 7/3 A? W A? X k '87 \Z: Z7 E i E United States atent 2,866,884ELECTRIC HEATERS FOR SHOWERS Eudoxie Georges Minier, Havana, CubaApplication July 11, 1957, Serial No. 671,215

2 Claims. (Cl. 219-39 This invention relates to electric heaters forshowers, and it has for its object to provide an improved electricheater of that kind.

The heater device of this invention comprises a cylindrical casinghaving an upper end tap and a lower end tap for connection with thewater supply line and for the egress of hot water respectively. Feedwater does not flow directly from the top end to the lower end of thedevice but through a tube that leads from the top end and reaches nearthe lower end to fill the inner space of the casing, and the water thenoverflows by an overflow tube that leads from near the top end andreaches near the lower end wherethrough it flows in ahot condition. Theheating of the water is effected by means of a tube containing anelectric resistance which is soldered to the casing through openings inthe top portion of ,the latter and it is wound twice lengthwise theinner spztce of the casing, the first end of said tube being connec eddirectly to one of the terminals of the electric supply l;'ne within anelectric connection box which is attachedte the upper middle portion ofthe casing and encloses a bridge framing comprising an electricallyinsulated head that supports a metal plate between a stationary postconnected to the other terminal of the electric supply line and anotherpost in the shape of an open fork within which the free end of the metalplate is enclosed.

Within a head metal plate which is partly superposed to the electricallyinsulated head there is supported at its edge a bimetallic sheet whichis made of two metals of dissimilar coefficient of expansion and whenthe water temperature rises beyond a certain limit said sheet bends inan opposite direction to thereby cause the metallic plate to disengagefrom the open-fork post contact through a stop attached thereto and tobreak the electric circuit through the resistance tube. The electriccircuit is closed by means of a button which is subject to elastictension and which is slidably mounted across an opening in the frontportion of the electric connection box to move the metal contact plateso that its free end will contact the open-fork post which is secured tothe electricity insulated head of the bridge framing mounted across abig opening in the heater casing.

The invention is described with reference to the figures of theaccompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is an outer elevational front view of the electric heater forshowers of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal diametral sectional view of same on line 2-2 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a similar sectional view to Fig. 2, showing the bimetall csheet in its normal position.

Fig. 5 is a similar sectional view to Fig. 2, showing the bimetallicsheet bent to withdraw the metallic plate from contact with theopen-fork post secured to the bridge framing.

Fig. 6 is a detailed inner view showing the electrically insulated headon which the contact plate is mounted.

ice.

Fig. 7 is a detailed view showing the bimetallic sheet mounted on themetallic head of the bridge framing.

Fig. 8 is a detailed inner view showing the metallic head of the bridgeframing-.-

In the drawings, 1 indicates a cylindrical metal casing which isthreadedly connected at its ends with two metal taps 2 and 3 which areinternally cylindrical and narrowed to form a thread mouthpiece 4 or 5at their outer portion to be threaded on the water supply line (notshown) and for the egress of hot water respectively. The uppermouthpiece 4 is closed at its base portion by ahorizontal partition 6and has a central opening from which leads a tube 7 that bends to oneside and ends near the lower tap 3 to permit the passage of the waterentering through upper mouthpiece 4 and the filling of the inner spaceof easing 1. The water overflows by an overflow tube 8 that leads fromnear the upper tap 2 and passes across at: opening in the centralportion of a horizontal partition 9 that interiorly obturates the lowermouthpiece 5 and thereby permits the free egress of hot water. I

Water is heated by means of a metallic tube 10 enclosing an electricwire resistance 11 and wound twice in opposite directions along andwithin the inner space of the casing 1, the ends of said tube 10 passingacross and being soldered to openings in the upper front portion of thecasing 1. Each end of said tube 10 is provided with. an electricallyinsulated plug 12 crossed by a bolt 13 secured by a nut 14, and theuppermost tube end is connected'directly with the post 15 of theelectric supply line 16 which is inserted through a mouthpiece 17 in anelectric connection box 18 secured to the outside of the upper frontportion of the casing 1 by means of curved lugs 19 secured to the casing1 by screws 20'. p

The box 18 has mounted therein through an enlarged opening 22 of casing1 a bridge framing consisting of a cylindrical head 21 made fromelectric insulating material such as porcelain and being partly coveredby another opposed metal sheet cylindrical: head 23. The head 21 hasfixed to the base thereof a post 24 secured directly to the b0lt'14; ofthe second terminal of electric power line 25 leading from mouthpiece17, and another post 26 extending and bent to form an open fork, whichis connected through a link 27 to the terminal of the electricresistance tube 10. A metallic plate 28 has one end oscillatorilymounted Within the fork of post 26 and it is secured at its other end tothe base of head 21, said latter end being secured by bolt 14 to thesecond terminal of the electric consumption line 25, plate 28 having atits middle portion a bolt 29 with a stop 30 adapted to be actuated by abimetallic sheet 31 whose edge is inserted in a hole formed between aright angle bent section 32 of head 23 and the edge of the cylindricalportion of head 21. The base of head 21 has an outer recess 34 and aninner recess 35, the latter having mounted thereon a disc 36 secured toa horizontal stem 37 which in turn is secured to another disc 38attached to an electrically insulated axle box 39 within which a coilspring 40 is wound about said stem 37, the threaded head of stem 37being screwed within a threaded button 41 that projects outwardlythrough an opening 42 in the box 18.

The operation of the electric heater of this invention is as follows: Inthe normal position, the valve of water line is opened to allow water toenter and till the inner space of easing 1, and by pressing the button41 upon the axle box 39, the stem 37 will move the metallic plate 28which will oscillate within the open fork of post 26 and thereby closethe contact with the latter and close the electric circuit between theterminal 25 of electric consumption line and the terminal of electricresistance wire 11. This effects the heating of the water enteringthrough tube 7 and overflowing through tube 8. In the event that theuser overlooked to switch off the electric current once the heaterutilized, the casing 1 and the inner tubes will attain a temperaturesuch that the bimetallic sheet 31 will bend outwards to cause the stop30 to oscillate the metallic plate 28 which will withdraw from contactwith the post 26, thereby breaking the electric circuit through theheater. Then, when it be desired to use the heater again, it willsufiice to press the button 31 to thereby apply the free end of metallicplate 28 within the fork of post 26 against the latter so that theelectric circuit will be closed and the water heated.

It is obvious that changes may be made in the number of turns of theelectric resistance tube within the inner space of the heater casing,without thereby altering the essential character of the invention whichis such as claimed hereinafter.

What I claim is:

1. In an electric heater for showers comprising a casing having closedmouthpiece taps for connection with the water supply line and for theegress of hot water respectively, the combination of a water inlet tubeleading from the inlet mouthpiece to near the opposed mouthpiece to fillwith water the inner space of the casing, an overflow tube leading fromnear the Water inlet mouthpiece to the opposed mouthpiece to allow theegress of hot water, an electric resistance tube being wound in aplurality of longitudinal turns within the inner space of the casing, anelectric connection box secured to the front of the casing and whereinone of the ends of the electric resistance tube is connected with one ofthe terminals of the electric consumption line, a bridge framingcomprising an electricity insulated head and another opposed metal sheethead mounted across an opening in the easing, the electricity insulatedhead having oscillatorily mounted thereon a metallic plate fixedlysecured to a post connected with the other terminal of the electricconsumption line and having its free end ending within an open fork ofthe former post connected with the electric resistance wire, and meanswithin the metallic head of the bridge framing which actuates upon beingexpanded by the action of the water heat and withdrawing the free end ofthe said metallic plate from contact with the forked post to therebybreak the electric circuit.

2. In an electric heater for showers comprising a casing having closedmouthpiece taps for connection with the water supply line and for theegress of hot water respectively, the combination of a water inlet tubeleading from the inlet mouthpiece to near the opposed mouthpiece forfilling with water the inner space of the casing, an overflow tubeleading from near the water inlet mouthpiece to the opposed mouthpiecefor the egress of hot water, an electric resistance tube being wound ina plurality of longitudinal turns within the inner space of the casing,an electric connection box secured to the casing front and wherein oneof the ends of the electric resistance tube is connected with one of theterminals of the electric consumption line, a bridge framing comprisingan electricity insulated head partly superposed by another opposed metalsheet head and both being mounted across an opening in the casing, theelectricity insulated head having oscillatorily mounted thereon ametallic plate fixedly secured at one end to a post connected with theother terminal of the electric consumption line and having its free endending in an open fork of the other post connected with the electricresistance wire, and a bimetallic circular sheet made from two metals ofdissimilar coeflicient of expansion and being inserted at its edge in ahole formed between the metallic sheet plate head and the edge of theelectricity insulated head, a stop secured to the middle portion of theoscillatorily mounted metallic plate, a stem mounted across the base ofthe electricity insulated head under the elastic tension of a coilspring and ending in a button passing across an opening in the electricconnection box so that upon the button being pressed down the metallicplate will be brought into contact with the open-fork post secured tothe base of the electricity insulated head and the electric circuitthrough the electric resistance wire will be closed and upon the Watertemperature rising beyond a certain limit the heat will cause saidbimetallic sheet to bend and through the stop secured to the metalliccontact plate it will push the free end of the latter out of contactwith the forked post and will break the electric circuit.

Hinkle May 8, 1917 De Khotinsky Sept. 11, 1917

